In this continuing blog series, we have discussed several technology solutions to help organizations cope with the response to COVID-19 and keep customers, staff, students, and all constituents as safe as possible.  Unfortunately, in any serious situation – where there is money to be made – invariably, many companies spring up and claim to have solutions and know-how to solve a pressing problem.

We want to use this post to tell you about ASAP Security and why you should trust us with advanced security solutions like temperature screening kiosks and cameras. We can assure you that not every company that might propose these solutions has over six decades of operational history in Texas. We’re also not here to make broad claims about what these solutions can do; we are mindful of their limitations. Nonetheless, we are confident that these advanced technologies, correctly implemented, can and will help increase safety in Houston during this pandemic.

Keep reading below to learn more about ASAP’s experience and the services we offer to be confident that we are the right partner for all your advanced security needs.

As businesses, schools, facilities, and organizations of all types look to resume operations or phase them back to normal, they have been faced with a double whammy: a significant drop in revenues and an increase in cost for mitigation measures to ensure the safety of everyone.

The good news is that the federal government stimulus package has components in it that may help.  The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) provided a massive package of aid to individuals, businesses, and state and local governments. And among parts of that aid were important provisions to help fund technology solutions for COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, and response.

We all hope that both a vaccine and treatment are developed quickly to take the severe threat aspect out of this pandemic. The reality, however, is that it will take some time for those answers to come to fruition. In the meantime, we can invest in available solutions that can help return us to normal life and economic activities in Austin and Texas while staying safe. And there are technologies like temperature screening systems that can help accomplish that, with funding assistance from the Federal government to expedite it.

Keep reading below for a summary of technology solutions and funding opportunities for implementing them.

In our continuing blog series on these pages, ASAP Security Services is committed to educating organizations on real technology solutions that can help curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have been working closely with the technology suppliers that are working hard to leverage existing technologies and develop solutions that can help organizations, facilities, and services function as normally as possible in these unprecedented times.

We have already discussed the promise – and the challenges – with body temperature detections at scale. As businesses, schools, companies, sports, performing arts, and events all want some ways to operate as before safely, one way of screening for pandemic symptoms is elevated body temperature detection. As we've noted, it is not just a simple matter of installing the right types of cameras in your Houston facilities. The technology needs to be set up correctly, and every organization must have a detailed plan of what they do with people that don't pass the screen.

In this blog, we’re going to cover these implementation issues in greater detail. If you are looking at ways to implement thermal temperature detection systems to help your organization get back to a reasonable level of regular activity with the right precautions, we encourage you to read further in this continuing series on technology solutions to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The challenges around fighting the spread of COVID-19 have been immense. Yet, in some areas, it has accelerated the adoption of technology solutions that have helped mitigate the problems. One example is the widespread use of video meetings and collaboration to enable people to work remotely. While not ideal in all situations, the success of that in many workplaces has caused some employers to rethink their workforce strategies, which could result in more future opportunities for work from home for many for whom it would be highly beneficial.

Other businesses and organizations have thought of contactless solutions to keep business going. Stores like Best Buy have heavily promoted online ordering with efficient store pickups, where just about all physical contact with personnel or the store is eliminated.

In a similar vein, many areas can be rethought for minimizing physical contact that doesn’t add value. Automatic doors eliminate pulls and touching handles, automatic flushing toilets, faucets, and soap and towel dispensing reduce physical contact in bathrooms, and other examples abound. And these things already exist; they do not require unproven new technology, but do require a willingness to replace existing infrastructure for long-term benefits.

Another technology that is proven and can provide rapid benefits is access control. Touchless access control for secure entry has existed for years. And with the advances in today’s software and integration with other intelligent security systems, it can also help in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas.

Keep reading to learn more.